KALEO at Revel ABQ: Thunder, Soul, and Icelandic Fire
Words and Photos by Zuzu Khalil
Some concerts entertain. Others awaken something deeper—an ancient, electric pulse that courses through the bones and lingers long after the final note fades. On a windswept Monday night in Albuquerque, KALEO delivered the latter.
Touring in support of their ever-evolving catalog and the smoldering energy of songs like “Way Down We Go” and “Break My Baby,” the Icelandic rockers brought their signature fusion of blues, soul, and volcanic grit to Revel ABQ—a venue that continues to punch above its weight in delivering unforgettable live experiences.
From the first guttural swell of “No Good,” KALEO took command with a kind of elemental force. Frontman JJ Julius Son’s voice—raw, expansive, and impossibly versatile—cut through the night like lightning over lava fields. Every note seemed to rise from the earth itself, crackling with both restraint and abandon.
The set unfolded like a journey through stormy landscapes and haunted love stories. Tracks like “Automobile” and “I Want More” simmered with slow-burning intensity, while anthems like “Alter Ego” erupted with fierce, almost cinematic drama. KALEO’s ability to pivot between quiet intimacy and full-blown rock spectacle is part of what makes them so singular—and live, that duality is even more magnetic.
Midway through the set, the band stripped things down for an acoustic interlude, including a spellbinding rendition of “All the Pretty Girls.” The room, often alive with movement and cheers, hushed. It wasn’t silence out of politeness—it was reverence. In that moment, Revel ABQ didn’t feel like a venue. It felt like a cathedral of sound.
There were no gimmicks, no forced crowd-hyping. Just music, atmosphere, and a group of musicians deeply in sync with one another—and with the crowd. Julius Son kept his stage banter minimal, letting the songs speak, though he did offer a few words about touring life, his love for the desert, and the surreal beauty of singing blues this far from the Mississippi.
Revel’s sharp acoustics and intimate layout made it the perfect conduit for KALEO’s dynamic sound, and the crowd—a sea of old fans and new converts—rose to meet the moment with fiery singalongs and wide-eyed awe. From the foot-stomping fervor of “Hot Blood” to the aching closer “Way Down We Go,” the night felt cinematic in scale and deeply personal in impact.
KALEO didn’t just put on a show. They summoned something timeless—part ritual, part revival. And if this performance is any indication, the Icelandic flame shows no sign of burning out.
